A Visit With Bob

Late last week the Fam and I made a quick trip to the central part of the state to visit Mum's sister, Bob.  The reason behind the trip was to help Bob with a few items on her early retirement "to do" list, and since it meant cross a mountain pass with questionable weather - we opted to spend the night there before making the trip home again.

Along the way, we saw plenty of ice and snow, though not as much as we thought we would.  With all the hub-bub we had been hearing during the week leading up to the planned trip (including a lot of winter weather advisories), we expected a lot more than what we experienced. 

I admit, winter doesn't seem like winter without white on the evergreen trees and a little slush on the roadways.  That said, it is still technically autumn, so I'm okay if there is no white on the evergreen trees and slush on the roadways - especially since I'm driving on them.

However, we made it safe and sound to our destination and were greeted by the happy barks of this lovely lady... Missy.  The whole Fam adores this fabulous pooch, and I admit that on several occasions we've plotted her sudden disappearance and re-appearance at our place.  But whenever we come for a visit, we make sure to give her plenty of attention before we leave.  That, and have quiet conversations with her about how much better it would be to live with us.  However, she usually responds by tilting her head and goobs us with her tongue.

Bob lives in a house that looks like a cabin (complete with real timber walls), so her house looks especially festive when done up for the holidays.  The hundreds of ceramic, stuffed, and painted snowfolks and Santas help as well.  If anyone doubts what time of the year it is... They won't after stepping into Bob's house.

Since we were going to spend quite a bit of time at Bob's place, Mum decided she would cook dinner.  On the menu was Greek chicken, Italian potatoes, dinner rolls, and green beans.  Cherry Gallettes were for dessert.  Loved it!  That would be Mum (with the hat on) and Bob in Bob's 1950s kitchen.

When I say 1950s, I mean 1950s.  Bob hates it.  Mum hates cooking in it.  I think Bob has plans to gut it.  I would too, if that was my kitchen.  Though, it does have a certain ketchy cabin appeal.
 

Here's a little peek at the Italian potatoes.  They were fabulous!

After we gorged ourselves, we chatted a bit, tackled Bob's "to do" list, and made potential plans for a spring break photo shoot and summer road trip before the Fam and I headed back to our hotel room for the night.  The next morning we headed back home, which was when we experienced big winds and bigger snowflakes.  Sorry I have no photographs of that, but I couldn't peel my fingers off the steering wheel long enough to turn on my camera.

Happy Tuesday!

Snow? What Snow?

Everywhere I look, there is snow.  That is, everywhere I look on Facebook, Twitter, and the TV news.  However, there is no snow here.  I live in a place that usually gets snow.  We don't get a lot, but we get enough to make me happy.  Over the past few years, we have had none of it.

Even when I traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in mid January, there was hardly any snow.  There were temperatures that were ridiculously cold and there were even a few snow flurries, but nothing stayed.  The slightest puff of a breeze, and the snow whirled and swirled then whisked away to somewhere other than where I happened to be located.

Over the last week, we have had some very cold temperatures.  Promises of snow were shouted out from the local weather folks and my Weather Channel app on my iPad mini.  What actually happened was it snowed everywhere but where I live.  But, I took heart in the fact that we were going to visit my aunt this week.

Why would I take heart in that? Well, my aunt lives in a place that has had a lot of snow.   So much snow that stories of snow blowers and snow plows have filled my Facebook newsfeed from the cousins that live in the same area.  While it isn't the same as having snow where I live, it would have to do.  That was until I looked at the recent weather forecast.... 40s and rain.  Even a conversation with my aunt this evening lead to a discussion on how the "snow will be gone when you get here."  Ugh!

I love snow.  I love how it makes everything white and calm.  I love how it makes the world quiet.  I can tuck myself into my office, wrap myself in flannel, and work until my brain turns to mush.  I am hyper productive when it is snowing outside the big picture window in my office... the fireplace snapping, crackling, and popping, and fluffy, soft blankets wrap around my legs and office chair.  Those glorious snow days mean not leaving my home, living like Hugh Hefner (that is, in pajamas), and a special crispiness to the world.  For me, it is dreamy.

That said, I'm not about the second ice age many places here in the U.S. have succumb to since December.  I only need a week of it to make me happy.  However, this year it looks like yet another year of green and brown.

Speaking to Heron

The weather this weekend was just down-right gloomy.  There was a lot of rain, even more wind, and temperatures warm enough to require no jacket (though wearing one was highly advisable considering all the rain).  And since I hadn't been out and about all that much because of being so busy with work (as you could also probably tell from my lack of blogging presence), I decided to drag Mum and Dawn out into the rain and do a little photography.

Clam Chowder and Salad Day...

In my family, we have Clam Chowder and Salad days.  These days are cold, blustery days.  They are the kind of days when you step outside and are drenched by rain.  They are the kind of days where you want to crawl back under the covers and listen to the wind howl outside and rain splat against the bedroom window.  They're the kind of days when you never want to get out of your pajamas and want to wrap yourself in a blanket and sit in a big, over-stuffed chair next to the fireplace.

Daffodil Delights

The daffodils are blooming and bright in Skagit Valley.  There is always a great source of comfort to be driving in that area of the world and see the fields in the river valley brightly glowing in yellow.  I just can't resist pulling out my camera every time I'm there.

Spring Night

Yesterday was the first official day of spring.  Even though we're suppose to be seeing the end of winter for this year, there are still bits and pieces of it here and there.  But I decided to go out and check out the change... Lovely, isn't it?

Chasing Rainbows

My little family and I were out and about the other day, and we noticed a rainbow.  We decided to chase it.  And before we knew it - were were chasing several rainbows.

Rainbows happen quite frequently around here simply because of the fickle weather we have in this part of the world.  One minute it will be pouring down rain, and the next minute the sun will shine.  Then the rainbows come out to play.

And for this little family, we decided we wanted to play too.  So, we joined the rainbows and had a little fun.

The Garden Center

We went to one of our local garden centers to look for two things:  cilantro seeds and mosquito pellets (they kill mosquitoes and mosquito eggs in standing water).  Mum's had serious problems with trying to grow cilantro in her herb garden, so we thought we would simply purchase seeds and try going cilantro in our mini greenhouse from seeds.  Well, at least I thought we should give it a go.

Windy Loveliness

Today we had serious wind.  It was basically a windstorm - a type of storm we've had frequently over the last 5-6 months.  While our windstorms are always destructive (so far the wind as knocked down part of our back garden fence and the top half of a tree), there are certain circumstances when they are just absolutely beautiful.  Here are a few snaps demonstrating those circumstances (and that beauty).

If you look closely, in the lower center of the image, you'll see an adolescent bald eagle.  S/he was too far away for me to get a good, close up of without being blown off the cliff side, but at least you get the idea.

The combination of low tide, wind, and sunshine made the beach and Bay absolutely amazing.  On days like this, the wind is far more tolerable.

Snowy Morning; Spring Afternoon

My little part of the world awoke yesterday morning to the brilliant white of snow.  We didn't have much snow - maybe 2 inches - but it was enough to celebrate.  Though the schools didn't call a "Snow Day" nor did the city slow down it's pace (not even the city trucks bothered to put sand and/or de-icer on the streets), but I called a Snow Day simply because I wanted to celebrate the snow.

Umbrellas...

I love umbrellas.  I think they are absolutely fabulous.  I suppose living in the Pacific Northwest, a love for umbrellas comes in handy (though we actually get a lot less rain than most people believe); however, I don't just use umbrellas for rain.  I also use them in the summer - to protect myself and my little family from the sometimes harmful (and damaging) sunshine.

All that said, I've noticed my umbrella collection isn't very... Well... It just isn't very pretty.  All of my umbrellas are either black or are on the stripy side of life.  What I mean by stripy is every other umbrella panel is a color like red or blue, while the other panels are white.  That is just as boring as black.

So, I'm on the hunt for prettier umbrellas.  Something that is fashionable and fabulous.  Unfortunately, I'm finding fashionable and fabulous is also a bit too expensive for my tastes.  However, here a few of the umbrellas I'm drawn toward...

Sunshine and Frozen Puddles

We've had a streak of sunshiny days lately.  In fact, it's been a good week's worth of sunshine.  In this part of the world, during this time of the year, when the sun shines it means there is going to be some serious cold during the night.  The serious cold always results in frozen puddles, frozen streams, frozen lakes, and even frozen patches in the Bay.

I haven't had the opportunity to head out with my cameras and snap images of these frozen bits, but I plan on doing it today.  Today is the day I jump out into the cold, embrace my inner outdoorsiness, and ensure my shutter doesn't freeze in place from the cold.

Photos to follow!